S.A. actors honored to be part of ‘Lights’ final season

As “Friday Night Lights” wraps its fifth season in Austin, two actors from San Antonio feel both honored and a little sad to have been involved in what is said to be the beloved Texas drama’s last season.

Chuck Cureau, who divides his time between working as a dolphin/Beluga whale trainer at Sea World here and whatever acting jobs come his way, was thrilled to be called out this summer for three “Lights” episodes.

He especially loved working with Kyle Chandler on the series finale, filmed last week and scheduled to air later this year on DirecTV.

“He was very personable and very kind. It was such an honor to work with him, particularly after he got the Emmy nomination,” Cureau, seen at right, said Sunday. However, given the fact that Chandler’s considered one of the best in the biz also made him feel some pressure: “I certainly didn’t want to stink. I gave it my all.”

Cureau, who’s done lots of family programming in the past – including his regular roles on the new syndicated version of “Captain Kangaroo” and as host of Discovery Kids’ “Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls” — said he plays a recurring role of reporter on the “Lights” episodes.

Working with Chandler and the rest of the cast was wonderful, he said, but also a little sad. “I was sad the show seems to be over,” he said, adding that he would have loved to return for more episodes.

Meanwhile, S.A.’s “King of the Hill” star, Jonathan Joss, at right, was disappointed when his part in “Jonah Hex” — as the Apache shaman that was responsible for giving the title character his powers — ended on the cutting room floor. However, he was thrilled to be called in by “Lights” to play a role also for the fifth season. “I play the local bootlegger,” he said, “and throw a big party where the kids get wild; one gets his first kiss; another actually gets branded while roasting weenies over a fire.”

He was happy to be part of the high school football drama, saying “it’s great to be on a show with such talented young actors. It was really fun to shoot.”

However, he’s not convinced that this is necessarily it for the series. “It’s been on the block before and then was brought back,” Joss said. “I’m hoping the fans come through again and convince the people in charge to keep it going.”

Meanwhile, viewers of the fourth season, airing now on NBC, will be happy to know that the two-week hiatus – that had “Lights” in reruns these past couple of weeks – is over.

The drama returns in full force at 7 p.m. Friday with plenty of controversy facing Tami Taylor, played by that other deserving Emmy nominee Connie Britton.